- Obesity rate has begun to decline among more well-off children
- But it has continued to rise among their less privileged counterparts
- Low-income families are less likely to
own a car – this means they are prone to buying processed foods higher in fat and sugar with a
long shelf-like - Their neighbourhoods also have fewer playgrounds and recreational facilities
By
Anna Hodgekiss
12:58 EST, 13 January 2014
|
12:59 EST, 13 January 2014
Poor diet: Children from low income families are more likely to be fed foods high in fat and sugar
Childhood obesity really is creating a class divide, scientists have warned.Â
In the last decade the problem has started to decline in youngsters from middle class backgrounds while continuing to rise among those from poorer families.
The findings in the U.S. back British researchers who warned four years ago youngsters from less affluent and educated households will find themselves caught in the obesity trap.
Recent studies suggest rates have levelled off, but Professor Robert Putnam and colleagues say the overall trend masks a significant and growing difference between young people of upper and lower class.
The Harvard researchers say that low-income families are less likely
to own a car.
This means they are prone to buying processed foods higher in fat and sugar with a
long shelf-like.
Their
neighbourhoods also have fewer playgrounds, pavements and recreational
facilities.
Children of more educated parents, on the other hand, are more likely to eat
breakfast and consume fewer calories from snacks.
Using data from two long-term national health surveys – the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Survey of Children’s Health – they showed obesity increased similarly for all 12 to 17 year-olds between 1988 and 2002.
Since then it has begun to decline among more well-off children, but has continued to rise among their less privileged counterparts, according to a report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Children from better backgrounds also had higher levels of physical activity and consumed fewer calories between 1999 and 2010 compared with the others.
The researchers said this could help explain the growing disparity in obesity among adolescents of different socio-economic status (SES).
Professor Putnam called for public interventions to promote healthy lifestyles among young people – particularly among those of lower SES.
Children of more educated parents are more likely to eat breakfast and consume fewer calories from snacks – hence they are less likely to be obese
He said: ‘Socio-economic background influences an individual’s food consumption and physical activity patterns.
‘Not
only are fresh vegetables and fruits costlier than fast food but
healthy alternatives are sometimes hard to find in poor neighbourhoods.’
He added: ‘Recent reports suggest the rapid growth in youth obesity seen in the 1980s and 1990s has plateaued.
‘Although the overall obesity prevalence stabilised, this trend masks a growing socio-economic gradient.
Recent studies suggest rates have levelled off, but the Harvard researchers say the overall trend masks a significant and growing difference between young people of upper and lower class
‘The prevalence of obesity among high socio-economic status adolescents has decreased in recent years, whereas the prevalence of obesity among their low socio-economic status peers has continued to increase.
‘Additional analyses suggest socio-economic differences in the levels of physical activity – as well as differences in calorie intake – may have contributed to the growing obesity gradient.’
In December 2009 researchers at University College London said the numbers of obese children from manual class households were on course to considerably outnumber those from non-manual households.
They said: ‘If trends continue as they have been between 1995 and 2007 in 2015 the number and prevalence of obese young people is projected to increase dramatically and these increases will affect lower social classes to a larger extent.’
Â
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The comments below have not been moderated.
RobertG,
Rockville, United States,
26 minutes ago
Is Michael Moore poor?
Kevin,
Atlanta,
30 minutes ago
It must be all that free cheese.
Janey,
London,
1 hour ago
Not cheap to get fat and keep on getting fatter.
Diana,
Tonbridge,
1 hour ago
And their parents! And we have a picture of a scale in pounds? In the uk, stones or kg please.
Uswisc,
Oconomowoc, United States,
1 hour ago
Maybe they shouldn’t let them spend there food stamps at mcdonalds.
she who must be obeyed,
the world,
1 hour ago
We gave got to go back to teaching children in school how to cook. It’s the only way.
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